Removable universal gun mount system

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a gun mount system which utilizes a standard cylindrical swivel plug and socket concept which permits fast and easy change out or relocation of desired weapons by as few as one or two people without using tools. It also permits the gun mounts to be readily relocated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention responds to the relatively new requirement as a result of terrorism to provide a defense posture for a merchant ship while it is in port or transiting close to shore.

Except in certain areas of the world, merchant ships until recently have not been threatened. Now, designated units of the United States Coast Guard, Marines, Navy or Army may be assigned to defend the ship. They currently use various automatic weapons employed by the military (M240, M249, M60, M2, etc.) that customarily are used on land or on combatant vessels that have permanent provision for the weapons utilization. Merchant ships may require the installation of the gun mounts for only the period of time that they are in a threat area perhaps only a couple of days.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,398, issued to Pickett, describes a “Gun Rest” that is not designed to be affixed to any structure. It is a “monopod having a base cylinder and a plurality of nesting, tapered interior tubes or cylinders, each having a successively smaller diameter and arranged in concentric, normally retracted, telescoping configuration inside the base cylinder. A mount plate is provided with a pivot clamp at one end for pivotal cooperation with the base cylinder. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use an arm but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,032, issued to Carrel and Puhak, describes a “Zero force insertion socket for gun mounts”. “The socket includes a central bore extending through the body and a plurality of electrically conductive, deformable pin holders seated in apertures surrounding the central bore and extending into the body where the holders have an inside diameter greater than a diameter of a pin of a gun mount assembly . . . ”. “The apparatus also includes a plurality of electrical contacts in electrical communication with the holders and having an exposed end for receiving electric.” It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use electricity but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,179, issued to Sanderson, describes a “Rotatable pintle arm assembly for supporting a machine gun” and comprises an arm for supporting a machinegun that is placed on one end into a vertical pivot journal. It is made up of a number of roller type anti-friction bearings, bushings, detent ring, and other parts requiring extensive machining. The machinegun must be mounted in a separate assembly that in turn fits on the arm. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use an arm but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,922, issued to Fog and Nielsen, describes a “Gunmount for machine guns or weapons of a similar kind, which mount comprises two mutually hinged swivel arms in staggered position the one at a higher level than the other, one of said arms at it's free end being pivotally embedded around a vertical pivot journal (pivot bearing) . . . while the other, which is appropriately formed as a vertically adjustable parallelogram connection, has fittings at it's face end for pivotal fastening of a fork for swivel action of a weapon”. It also uses cables, springs, sprockets, and pins to facilitate a position detent system. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use arms but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,448, issued to Kaustrader, describes an “Automatic gun mounting system” that is primarily designed to “quiet or dampen” recoil. It is comprised of a number of parts some. of which are rubberized. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention is of a completely different configuration, is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,703, issued to Fog and Nielsen, describes a “Gun mount for a machine gun . . . with means for continuously variable adjustment of the elevation of the upper swivel arm”. This assembly is composed of a radius arm to which an articulated elevation arm is attached by means of a vertical trunnion. The weapon is rigidly bolted to and becomes a part of this assembly. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention is of completely different design, does not use any arms but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,428, issued to Maples and Becker, describes a “Swing arm (gun) mount” assembly comprised of a radius arm hinged in the center so as to permit the gun to be put in any position in the horizontal plane from the affixing point (the center of the radius arm) out to the full extension of the arms. The weapon is bolted to and becomes a part of this complete assembly. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention is of a completely different design, does not use any arms but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,066, issued to Canterbury, describes an “Adustable rifle rest”. It comprises a “cylindrical standard implantable into the ground, a freely rotatable front rifle support mounted on the upper end of the standard, a sleeve snugly but rotatably and slidingly engaging the standard, a member having a horizontal portion with one end thereof fixed to the sleeve and the other end terminating in an upwardly extending portion, and a fixed rifle support mounted on the upper end of the vertical portion of the member. It is dissimilar to the current invention in that the current invention does not use any arms or “members” but is comprised of two basic parts and utilizes a simple proven concept of a standard size swivel plug (vertical pivot journal) that the weapon mounts directly to and a mating socket of sturdy design which permits quick, easy relocation and/or interchangeability of a variety of firearms (automatic weapons). It is affixed to a structure that provides stability. It is quickly and easily fabricated from commonly available materials.

Prior systems do not include a gun mount application that addresses the above. Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a weapons mounting structure and system which as a temporary part of the ship's structure are able to be installed, removed, or relocated quickly and easily and can provide a wide field of fire from a rigid mount that increases the aiming accuracy of the supported gun during firing, will accommodate the various weapons that might be utilized, facilitate rapid change out or relocation of these weapons employed on board as the tactical situation warrants.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sturdy, inexpensive, removable gun mount system for the conventionally unarmed merchant ship such that it can be used with the majority of automatic weapons that a force protection, security, or ship defense unit usually a military contingent assigned to the vessel for a definite period of time might be equipped with. The threat would be from on shore, from small fast boats, possibly light aircraft, or a combination thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The versatility of the gun mount system is derived from a novel application of a simple cylindrical swivel plug of standard dimensions which fits into cylindrical socket of mating standard dimensions.

The cylindrical swivel plug has a pronounced bevel on one end to facilitate quick, easy insertion into the cylindrical socket. There is a rim on the other end of the plug which provides the vertical (axial) bearing surface between the plug and the top end of the cylindrical socket. This bearing also takes the weight of the weapon. The inner periphery of the socket and the outer cylindrical surface of the plug form a journal bearing which allows the plug and the weapon to rotate in the horizontal plane. A stem piece of solid round stock extends from the top center of the swivel plug. On the end of this stem is the yoke or trunnion which by means of a pin provides the method of attaching the swivel plug to the particular firearm (eg: M240, M249, M60, M2) and also a means to elevate or depress the weapon including but not limited to a mount for a railing, a mount for a bulwark, a tripod, and angle iron, and sockets of varying lengths. (The center of the beveled end of the plug is bored out to save weight).

The invention consists of a tube and plug adapter. The tube is of cylindrical shape with a screw bolt or spring mechanism to secure the plug which is inserted into it. The plug consists of a smaller cylindrical form with an adapter in the shape of a u-bracket or another cylindrical means which functions to secure the weapon to the plug. The plug is then inserted into the tube which is then mounted to various extension mechanism identified above.

The cylindrical swivel plug socket in turn installed on the railing bracket, a flange, etc. accommodates any firearm fitted with the standard swivel plug.

The railing mount comprises a piece of angle iron with a cylindrical swivel plug socket welded to the upper inside. There is a “U” bolt located on the upper end of the bracket on the vertical centerline just below the level of the bottom of the socket. Further down on the centerline are drilled two holes to accommodate ½ inch″-13, grade 8 hex head cap screws which are used to secure the adjustable sliding saddle plate for the lower railing “V” block and “U” bolt. The “U” bolts quickly and easily permit the railing bracket to be installed, removed, or relocated.

The “bulwark” (vertical steel plate railing with a horizontal top plate cap) consists of the standard cylindrical socket welded to a rectangular flange plate having mounting holes drilled in each corner. In turn, this flange is mounted on the horizontal plate that caps a solid vertical plate railing (bulwark).

The military tripod as provided by the U.S. Government is too short for the barrels of any of the automatic weapons to depress past the horizontal because of the height of the conventional commercial merchant marine pipe and stanchion railing. The standard swivel plug is then utilized with a flanged extension piece made of large diameter pipe which is bushed and bored at the top for the standard swivel plug socket. This particular socket is part of an ammunition can holder and rotates within the extension piece bore. In this case, the standard swivel plug and socket are usually pinned and rotate in the horizontal plane as a unit so that the ammunition can follows the rotation of the weapon at right angles at all times so as to facilitate smooth trouble free feeding of ammunition to the weapon.

Due to immediate service requirements and the resulting shortened fabrication time, the design of the railing mount bracket was manufactured as one piece without the slider plate which permits adjustment for railings with different dimensions. Also as a result of immediate service requirement and the resulting shortened fabrication time, the design of detent assembly that retains the swivel plug in the socket was changed to a simple strip of spring steel bent at the top into two loop. The loop configuration provides the strip of spring steel to cam laterally out of the way when the bevel of the swivel plug pushes down on it permitting the swivel plug to enter the socket quickly and easily. The rounded surface of the bottom loop acts as a bearing surface to keep the swivel plug from dislodging as a result of recoil vibration. It also precludes any sharp corners or edges that would cause a hang up when removing the swivel plug from the socket.

An add on “after market” fore grip for the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) was fabricated by taking the yoke (as used on the standard swivel plug for the M249) and using a solid pin through the axis of a piece of pipe the sides of which have been collapsed to an elliptical cross-section and then welding the pieces together for strength. The elliptical cross section of the collapsed pipe is then covered by a molded two part epoxy to make a hand grip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Isometric view of the invention installed on a railing and a bulwark.

FIG. 2 Side View and Isometric views of the Swivel Plug part of the invention including a trunnion adapter for a particular firearm.

FIG. 3 Side View and Isometric View of the Swivel Plug Tube (Socket) part of the invention.

FIG. 4 Details of the Swivel Plug Detent Retainer Assembly.

FIG. 5 Details of the Swivel Plug Spring Retainer Assembly.

FIG. 6 Top, Side, and Isometric Views of the Yoke Adapter for particular firearms.

FIG. 7 Details of the Adjustable Bracket to which the Swivel Plug Socket is attached.

FIG. 8 Details of the One Piece Bracket to which the Swivel Plug Socket is attached.

FIG. 9 Details of the Adjustable Bracket.

FIG. 10 Details of the One Piece Bracket.

FIG. 11 Isometric View of the Tripod Extension.

FIG. 12 Ammunition Box Holder used with the Tripod Extension.

FIG. 13 Exploded View and Isometric View of Foregrip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 depicts the present invention, a Plug 10 rotatable in the horizontal plane to which a firearm is affixed on top of the Stem 15 by means of a Yoke 17 or a Trunnion 16 either of which permit the firearm to be elevated or depressed in the vertical plane, and a mating Socket 20 for the Plug 10. The Socket 20 is welded as required to either a Mounting Plate 23 for horizontal surfaces, welded to the upper end of the Adjustable Bracket FIG. 7 for railings, or to the upper end of the One-Piece Bracket FIG. 8 for mounting to the side of a masonry wall.

As seen in FIG. 1, 2, 3, and 5, the Plug 10 is cylindrical of such outside diameter as to provide significant bearing surface in both the axial direction Shouldered Upper Rim 12 and radial Cylindrical Periphery 10 so that the firearm is securely supported yet permits rotation of the firearm. The center of the Plug 10 is bored 13 to reduce weight. The bottom outside rim of the plug is tapered 11 to facilitate fast, easy insertion into Socket 20. The inclined plane of the taper 11 moves the Stem 30 of the Detent Assembly 36 to compress of Spring 32 causing the Stem 30 to be retracted out of the way to let the body of the Plug 10 pass. This taper 11 also causes the Upper Spring 50 of the Spring Retainer Assembly 52 to be moved aside when the Plug 10 is inserted into the Socket 20 fitted with the Spring Retainer Assembly 52, FIG. 5.

When the Plug 10 is seated in the Socket 20 with the Detent Retainer Assembly 36, the Annular Groove 14 in the Plug 10 causes the Detent Spring 32 to move the end of the Detent Stem 30 opposite the Knob 34 into the Annular Groove 14 in the Plug 10 thus preventing the Plug from being dislodged as a result of the recoil of the firearm. When the Plug 10 is seated in the Socket 20 with the Spring Retainer Assembly, the Upper Spring 50 of the Spring Retainer moves back into it's original position overhanging the top surface of the Plug 10 thus preventing the Plug from being dislodged.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 show the Plug Detent Retainer Assembly 36 which is comprised of the Detent Stem 30, Spring Housing 31, Spring 32, Housing Cap 33, Knob 34. The end of the Stem 30 opposite the Knob 34 is inserted into a drilled hole 19 through the wall of the Socket 20 so as to engage the Plug Annular Groove 14. The Spring Housing 31 is the affixed to the Socket 20 by welding. The Detent Assembly 35 holds the Plug 10 in the Socket 20 but allows the Plug 10 to rotate freely about it's axis. To remove the firearm from the Socket 20 with the Detent Retainer Assembly 35 requires pulling the Detent Knob 34 out and removing the Plug 10 from the Socket 20. With the Socket 20 having the Spring Retainer Assembly 52, the Upper Spring 50 is moved outward with the thumb and in turn the Plug 10 with firearm is removed.

FIG. 5 shows the details of the Spring Retainer Assembly 52 which performs the same function as the Detent Assembly 35. The Spring Retainer Assembly utilizes a piece of flat spring steel 50 formed as shown and affixed to the Socket 20 by two (ea) large radiator hose clamps 51.

FIG. 2 shows the adapter Trunnion 16 and Yoke 17 affixed atop the Plug Stem 15. The Trunnion 16 or Yoke 17 are fabricated to accommodate the particular firearm e.g. M60, M240, M249, M2, etc. The dimensions of the Plug 10 and Socket 20 are all the same; therefore, once the plug for the firearm is fabricated with the respective “adapter” yoke or trunnion that firearm or any firearm fitted with Gun mount Plug 10 will fit interchangeably, quickly, and easily into any gun mount socket 20 location.

FIG. 3, the Socket 20 is a heavy walled cylindrical tube fabricated to accommodate Plug 10 and drilled 19 for the Detent Retainer Assembly 36. In turn, it is affixed either to a Base Plate 23 with drilled mounting holes 19 for horizontal surfaces, the Adjustable Bracket 40, FIG. 7 for railings, or the One-Piece Bracket 46, FIG. 8 for the side of a masonry wall (used without “V” saddle plates or “U” bolts) or railings using the “V” saddle plates and “U” bolts.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 show the details of the Adjustable Mounting Bracket. It comprises a notched 49 and drilled 19 angle iron 40, the webs of which provide strength and rigidity. To this angle iron is clamped by means of bolts 45 an adjustable, slotted sliding saddle plate 41. The Saddle Plate 41 has two saddles of “V” plates 42 welded to it to help solidly clamp the middle rail of a railing. The Sliding Saddle Plate 41 allows the bracket to be adjusted to various lengths. The assembly is clamped to the rails of the railing by utilizing “U” bolts 43, lockwashers 47, and nuts 44. The Gun Mount Socket 20 is welded to the upper notched end 49 of the Adjustable Bracket. The Notch 49 provides access for welding the Socket 20 to the inside of the angle iron 40 and eliminates a snag hazard.

The gun mount can be installed to the side of a masonry wall, vertical plate bulwark using the One-Piece Bracket 46 (without “U” bolts or “V” saddle plates) or to a railing (using “U” bolts and “V” saddle plates). The One-Piece Bracket 46 comprises a pice of angle iron of appropriate length, notched on the upper end, having drilled holes to accommodate fastening bolts. The lower end of the web perpendicular to web with the drilled holes is trimmed at an angle to reduce weight and eliminate a snagging hazard.

The Socket 20 welded to a drilled 19 Base Plate 23 comprises a gun mount which can be installed on the top of a ship's bulwark (FIG. 1 right side) or to the top of a masonry wall. In this application, the bottom of the socket is “V” notched 22 on opposite sides as shown to facilitate drainage of rainwater.

The standard U.S. government tripod is too short for a firearm's barrel to clear commercial ship railings. In order to use the gunmount with the tripod, an extension piece (FIG. 11) is required. It comprises a Bushing 73 bored 75 to the outside diameter of the socket 20 and welded to a piece of heavy walled pipe 70 which is in turn welded to a drilled 19 Base Plate 23.

Because a heavy firearm such as a 0.50 Caliber machinegun is customarily mounted on the tripod and uses larger, heavier ammunition, an ammunition box holder is desirable. FIG. 12 comprises an ammunition box holder which is used on the Tripod Extension FIG. 11 but utilizes the present invention of the Plug 10 and Socket 20 Gun Mount System. The Ammo Box Holder FIG. 12 is made up of light angle iron 80, 84, 85, 86 as shown to which two heavy concentric rings are welded. The Lower Ring 82 is bored a loose sliding fit to the outside diameter of the Tripod Extension Tube 70. The Upper Ring 81 is bored to the outside diameter of the Gun Mount Socket 20. The Upper Ring is then welded to the Socket 20 on the ring's upper side only. The Plug 10 is then installed in the Socket 20 with the Yoke 17 axis parallel to the ammo box angles 80 and 84. The whole assembly-Ring 81, Socket 20, and Plug 10 is drilled diametrically through for a Pin 18. Inserting Pin 18 will cause the Ammunition Can Holder FIG. 12 to rotate with the machinegun keeping the ammunition belt at 90 degrees to the feed ramp. The Teflon Ring 83 is a washer used in the vertical axis bearing between the underside of the Upper Ring 81 and the top surface of the Tripod Extension 74. The Lower Ring 82 acts as a radial bearing and guide on the outside periphery of the Tripod Extension 70.

Servicemen using the Plug 10 and Socket 20 Gun Mount System began using the Plug 10 as a foregrip on the Squad Automatic Weapon M249 in particular. However, the diameter of the Plug 10 was bulky and awkward to handle. FIG. 13 is a Foregrip 68 developed using the Yoke 17 adapter for the particular firearm (M249 SAW) mounted with a Pin 62 into a collapsed piece of pipe 60 and then welded together. The pipe 60 being covered with a molded two part epoxy to form a handgrip with finger contours on the forward edge, non-slip cross hatched serrations on the sides, and the back edge surface slightly rounded to the contour of the palm of the hand and cross hatched. All sharp corners and edges are rounded to eliminate stress points to the hand. As this handgrip is oriented at 90 degrees to the Yoke Crosspiece 63 the foregrip (handgrip) can be used with either left hand or the right hand. 

1. A gun mount assembly comprising, an elongated hollow cylinder having an inner diameter and having an upper end and a lower end, a cylindrical plug having an outer diameter and having an upper end and a beveled-shaped lower end, wherein the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder is greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical plug, and wherein the cylindrical plug is adapted to be inserted via its beveled lower end into the upper end of the hollow cylinder, a means within the hollow cylinder for securing the cylindrical plug in place within the hollow cylinder, a means for attaching a fire arm to upper end of the cylindrical plug.
 2. The gun mount assembly according to claim 1, wherein the means for securing the cylindrical plug in place within the hollow cylinder is a spring-pin assembly.
 3. The gun mount assembly according to claim 1, wherein the means for attaching a fire arm to upper end of the cylindrical plug comprises a stem which extends from the upper end of the cylindrical plug.
 4. The gun mount assembly according to claim 3, wherein the means for attaching a fire arm to upper end of the cylindrical plug further comprises a yoke.
 5. The gun mount assembly according to claim 3, wherein the means for attaching a fire arm to upper end of the cylindrical plug further comprises a trunnion.
 6. The gun mount assembly according to claim 4, wherein the means for attaching a fire arm to upper end of the cylindrical plug further comprises a pin.
 7. The gun mount assembly according to claim 5, wherein the means for attaching a fire arm to upper end of the cylindrical plug further comprises a pin.
 8. The gun mount assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a mount for a railing.
 9. The gun mount assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a mount for a bulwark.
 10. The gun mount assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a tripod “extension”. (Government provides a tripod. I designed and mfg'd an “extension” piece to permit the firearm's barrel to clear the railing).
 11. The gun mount assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an angle iron wherein a sliding saddleplate provides the means for railing adjustment.
 12. The gun mount assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mount for a railing comprises a piece of angle iron having cylindrical swivel plug socket welded to the upper inside portion thereof.
 13. The gun mount assembly according to claim 1, wherein the means for securing the cylindrical plug in place within the hollow cylinder is a spring-clip assembly. 